Russia declares state of emergency in Kursk region , where fighting has been going on for the third day now between Russian forces and the Ukrainian army, which carried out an unexpected invasion.
Bloomberg reports that Russian intelligence has been aware of the possible attack for 2 weeks, monitoring the build-up of Ukrainian forces near the border, but no one has informed President Vladimir Putin.
Russian army chief Valery Gerasimov is facing mounting criticism after Ukrainian troops launched their biggest incursion into Russian territory since the Kremlin launched a full-scale war nearly 900 days ago.
Gerasimov and senior officials appeared to dismiss intelligence warnings that Ukrainian troops were massing near the border. While Gerasimov is unlikely to be removed in the short term, patience in the Kremlin with his way of waging war is running out, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue is sensitive.
The president summoned Gerasimov and other senior defense and security officials to a meeting on Wednesday to brief him on efforts to repel the invasion. Officials in Kiev declined to confirm or comment on the operation, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Ukrainian army “knows how to surprise”.
Ukraine's armed forces so far seem to have adopted a strategy of strict silence regarding their actions in the Russian border region, notes the agency “Reuters“. “Everyone can see that the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise. And he knows how to achieve results," Zelensky said.
Not surprisingly, Vladimir Putin was not informed of the potential threat. According to sources close to the Kremlin, the Russian security services do not dare to tell him the negative news from the front.